Nile Cruise · Aswan & Luxor
Esmeralda Nile Cruise
- 4.9 on Tripadvisor · 88 reviews
- Licence No. 121
Tour Overview
The Esmeralda Nile cruise is a 3- or 4-night full-board sailing between Aswan and Luxor, departing on Mondays and Fridays, with fares from $1,077 per person in a triple cabin between September and May. Private guiding and entrance fees are part of the price, so the cost you see covers most of the trip once you reach Upper Egypt.
The kind of trip it is
The Esmeralda is a relaxed, well-kept ship for travelers who want the classic Nile journey done properly: comfortable rooms, attentive service and an easy pace between sites. It suits first-time visitors to Egypt, mature travelers and couples, rather than anyone looking for nightlife on board. You will find it in our ultra deluxe Nile cruises list.
Fare breakdown
From September to May:
- 3 nights from Aswan: $1,077 per person triple, $1,147 double, $1,711 single.
- 4 nights from Luxor: $1,368 per person triple, $1,443 double, $2,131 single.
Three people sharing a cabin pay the least per head; a single traveler pays a supplement of roughly half again over the double rate.
The sights along the way
The Luxor to Aswan stretch is where most of Egypt’s great temples sit close to the water. Luxor offers Karnak and the royal tombs on the West Bank; Aswan has the island temple of Philae. In between, the ship calls at Edfu and Kom Ombo. The day-by-day program sits further down this page.
Covered by the fare
Meet and greet at the airport, private air-conditioned transfers, full board on the ship, private guided tours with an English-speaking guide, entrance fees for itinerary sites, service charges and taxes.
Paid separately
International flights, the Egyptian visa, optional tours, personal extras and tips.
Planning tips
The fares run September to May. If you want the Valley of the Kings without the heaviest crowds, aim for October, November or late March, and choose the 4-night sailing so Luxor is not squeezed into one morning. Our Nile cruise guide covers what to pack and how cruise days are paced.
If you have more time, pair the cruise with Cairo and the pyramids; our pyramids and Nile cruise tours show how that works, and our team can adjust any of them through tailor-made tours.
Tour Highlights
English-Speaking tour guide/leader
All transfers by air-conditioning vehicle
Meet at the airport upon arrival
4/3 Nights Nile cruise
Meals mentioned in the itinerary
Tour Packages
04 Days / 03 Night From Aswan
On arrival, you will be met and escorted to your Nile cruise for embarkation.
Begin your Aswan sightseeing with a visit to the impressive High Dam, a landmark of modern Egyptian engineering. Continue by boat to Agilkia Island to explore the exquisite Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and renowned for its beautifully preserved sanctuaries and reliefs.
Return to your Nile cruise, where lunch is served on board, followed in the evening by an international buffet dinner.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, visit the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, a rare double sanctuary dedicated to two deities—Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder. Return to your Nile cruise for lunch on board.
Later, explore the remarkably well-preserved Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus and considered one of the finest surviving temples of ancient Egypt. In the evening, enjoy a continental buffet dinner on board your cruise.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, enjoy a privately guided exploration of Luxor’s East Bank. Visit the vast Karnak Temple, a monumental complex built over centuries, before continuing to Luxor Temple, once connected by a grand avenue of ram-headed sphinxes.
These extraordinary sites together embody Luxor’s enduring reputation as the world’s greatest open-air museum and one of its most remarkable archaeological landscapes.
Return to your Nile cruise in the afternoon. In the evening, enjoy a relaxed Galabia celebration on board.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, disembark from your Nile cruise. Continue with a guided visit to Luxor’s West Bank, beginning with the legendary Valley of the Kings, the royal burial ground of Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs. Continue to the striking Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, beautifully set against the desert cliffs, and pause at the monumental Colossi of Memnon, which have stood guard over the Theban plain for more than three thousand years.
Following your visit, transfer to Luxor Airport or the train station for your onward journey.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast.
05 Days / 04 Night From Aswan
Upon arrival in Luxor, transfer to your Nile cruise for embarkation.
Later, enjoy a guided visit to Luxor’s East Bank, home to the magnificent Temple of Karnak, a vast complex built over centuries by generations of pharaohs. Continue to the graceful Luxor Temple, once connected to Karnak by a ceremonial avenue of ram-headed sphinxes. Together, these monuments define Luxor’s reputation as the world’s greatest open-air museum and one of the most remarkable archaeological landscapes in existence.
In the evening, enjoy an international buffet dinner on board.
Accommodation : Overnight onboard
Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit to Luxor’s West Bank. Explore the renowned Valley of the Kings, the royal burial ground of Egypt’s New Kingdom pharaohs. Continue to the remarkable Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set dramatically against the cliffs of the Theban mountains, and pause at the monumental Colossi of Memnon, which have stood guard over the plain for more than three millennia.
Return to your Nile cruise for the afternoon.
In the evening, enjoy a continental buffet dinner on board.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, sail toward Edfu, passing through the Esna Lock. On arrival, visit the remarkable Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus and considered one of the best-preserved temples of the ancient world.
Return to your Nile cruise for lunch on board as the journey continues along the Nile toward Kom Ombo. Visit the distinctive Temple of Kom Ombo, uniquely dedicated to two deities—Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder.
After the visit, return to your cruise and continue sailing toward Aswan.
In the evening, enjoy an international buffet dinner on board.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, enjoy a guided visit to the impressive High Dam, a landmark of modern Egyptian engineering that transformed the country’s irrigation and energy supply. Continue with a scenic boat ride to Agilkia Island to explore the beautiful Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and renowned for its graceful sanctuaries and reliefs.
Return to your Nile cruise for the afternoon.
In the evening, enjoy a relaxed Galabia evening accompanied by an oriental dinner on board.
Meals: Overnight onboard
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
After breakfast, disembark from your Nile cruise. You will then be transferred to Aswan Airport or the train station for your onward journey.
Accommodation: Overnight onboard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Hint: Your journey should be as unique as you are. Share your ideas, and we'll craft a bespoke itinerary around your preferences.
Inclusions
- Meet and greet service by our representatives upon your airport arrival
- All transfers via private air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation on the Nile Cruise ship full board
- Private sightseeing tours in Luxor & Aswan (listed on itinerary)
- English-speaking tour guide
- Entrance fees to all sites mentioned on the itinerary
- All meals mentioned on the itinerary
- All service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- International Airfare
- Entry visa to Egypt
- Any optional tours
- Any extras not mentioned in the program
- Tipping.
Tour Prices
Important Notes
👨👩👧 Delta Tours Child Policy:
- 0 – 1.99 years: Free of charge (except for flight tickets where airline rules apply).
- 2 – 5.99 years: Pay 25% of adult price (if there is a flight tickets).
- 6 – 11.99 years: Pay 50% of adult price (sharing parents’ room/cabin).
- 12 years and above: Considered an adult and pay full price.
Notes:
- Child discounts apply when sharing a room/cabin with two full-paying adults.
- If a child requires a separate room, the full adult rate applies.
- Some tours, cruises, or hotels may have different rules; in that case, the stricter policy applies.
Ready to Discover Egypt Your Way?
Let our local travel specialists create a private journey shaped around your interests, pace, and preferred travel style.
Esmeralda Nile Cruise: Common Questions
You can sail 3 nights from Aswan to Luxor or 4 nights from Luxor to Aswan.
From September to May it is $1,147 per person for 3 nights and $1,443 per person for 4 nights.
Mondays and Fridays.
Travelers who want a comfortable, quiet ship and a well-paced classic itinerary, especially first-time visitors and couples.
International flights, the visa, optional tours, personal extras and tips.













